Curtworth Masango-Zimpapers Sports Hub
IF MWOS go on to beat or draw against Hardrock at Chahwanda on Sunday, the feeling could be bittersweet.
On one hand, they need full points to finish in a respectable position in the Castle Lager Premiership.
On the other, their rivalry with Scottland, who will benefit from such a result, is real.
Hardrock lead the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings with 66 points from 31 matches, while Scottland have 61 from 30.
The picture is that clear.
Yet MWOS defender Valentine Katsande has made it clearer that his side’s motivation comes from their own dressing room.
“We need to stretch our winning streak, so we are going to give our best,” said Katsande.
“We want to finish on a high note. We want to collect as many points as possible.”
There is no promise of a favour in those words. MWOS, seventh with 45 points, have their mission, own season to finish and fans to satisfy.
The rivalry between Scottland and MWOS dates back to the fiercely contested 2024 Northern Region Soccer League championship race.
Scottland secured promotion after a campaign whose dispute reached the ZIFA appeals structures, leaving MWOS with the disappointment of finishing second.
The competition followed them into the Premiership. In 2025, Scottland again took the league championship, with MWOS runners-up, seven points behind.
For two successive seasons, the Norton side watched their rivals celebrate the prize they had pursued.
Katsande could have an important part in that uncomfortable alliance.
A dependable figure for the Norton club, he has started 29 league matches this season, missing only two, one through suspension and another through injury.
He has also featured in every cup match MWOS have played.
The defender has contributed one goal and four assists, collected five club fans’ Player of the Month awards, including three consecutively, and earned two PSL Man of the Match honours.
His consistency will be valuable against a Hardrock side seeking to protect their advantage at the summit. Scottland, meanwhile, must still fulfil their own obligations.
Their game in hand means winning all four remaining league matches would take them to 73 points. Their next league fixture after the CAF Champions league is against CAPS United at Rufaro on Thursday, October 29, four days after Hardrock host MWOS.
